Egyptian

The Egyptian ‘Dream Book’ is preserved in the form of a papyrus with a hieratic script. This papyrus was found in the ancient Egyptian workers’ village of Deir el-Medina, near the Valley of the Kings. This papyrus has been dated to the early reign of Ramesses II (1279-1213 B.C.).

Each page of the papyrus begins with a vertical column of hieratic signs which translates as ‘If a man sees himself in a dream’. In each horizontal line that follows, a dream is described, and the diagnosis ‘good’ or ‘bad’, as well as the interpretation is provided. Thus, as an example: ‘If a man sees himself in a dream looking out of a window, good; it means the hearing of his cry’. The good dreams are listed first, followed by the bad ones (written in red, as it is the colour of bad omens).

Around 108 dreams, which describe 78 activities and emotions, are recorded in the ‘Dream Book’. These activities may be said to be things commonly undertaken by the average person. Most of these activities deal with some form of sight or seeing. The second largest category deals with eating and drinking, and a few more deal with receiving and copulating.

The papyrus probably had several owners before being finally being deposited in Deir el-Medina. Although it is unclear who its original owner was, some of its owners can be traced through their names on the papyrus. For instance, we know that the scribe Qeniherkhepshef once owned this papyrus, since he copied a poem about the Battle of Kadesh which took place during Ramesses II’s reign. Also, the names of this scribe’s wife’s second husband, Khaemamen, and his son, Amennakht, can be found on the papyrus, indicating that the papyrus belonged to them.

Another interesting thing about the ‘Dream Book’ is that it was once part of an archive. In addition to this papyrus, there were a variety of papyri which dealt with literary, magical, and documentary works. As the ‘Dream Book’ has demonstrated, this was an heirloom that was handed down from one generation to the next.

It is interesting to consider whether the ‘Dream Book’ was regarded by the ancient Egyptians as a piece of ‘serious’ or a ‘popular’ piece of writing. After all, if archaeologists of the future were to discover newspaper clippings of the ‘daily horoscope’ (without the knowledge of the social context of our age), they would probably be equally unsure as to whether these ‘predictions’ were meant to be taken seriously or not. Obviously, how serious a reader takes these ‘predictions’ would be a whole different matter that could be explored as well.

Nevertheless, the Egyptian ‘Dream Book’ is a fascinating piece of work which shows one of the beliefs (be it serious or not) held by the ancient Egyptians. Moreover, the value placed by the ancient Egyptians on knowledge can also be seen, as this papyrus was passed down from one generation to another as an heirloom.

The Dream Interpretations

Here is a list of the dreams and their meanings. You will notice that some of them make more sense than others. The simplest way to read the list is to preface it with, ” If a man sees himself in a dream…”

Against his finger ~ good ~ signifies receiving cattle.

Anointing self with oil ~ bad ~ indicates his people will be taken away from him.

An ape represents a heart.

As helmsman of a boat, ~ bad ~ speaks of a judgement against him that is not justified.

Baring his own rear-end ~ bad ~ means he will be poor.

Barley and emmer in the beyond ~ good ~ he will be protected by his God.

Being appointed an official ~ bad ~ in a dream means death is approaching.

Beaten by a willow ~ bad ~ foretells a funeral procession.

The bed goeth up in flames ~ bad ~ indicates his wife will be expelled.

Beer represents surging emotions.

“Being given a head” ~ good ~ “in order to speak.”

Being pricked by a thorn ~ bad ~ signifies telling lies.

Binding ~ good ~ receiving a house in the end.

Binding people who are netted in the night ~ good ~ speech will be taken away from his enemies.

Binding your own legs ~ good ~ dwelling with fellow-citizens.

Bitten by a hound ~ bad ~ means to be touched by magic (but not in a good way).

Bitten by a snake ~ bad ~ means a dispute against him.

Blood ~ good ~ an end to his enemies.

Blossoms ~ good ~ prosperity.

Bones ~ good ~ sustenance of the palace.

A bow in your hand ~ good ~ receiving an important office.

Breaking a vessel with his feet ~ bad ~ fighting.

Breaking apart stone ~ bad ~ his God is angry with him.

Breaking into ~ good ~ receiving a wife.

Breeding with a cow ~ good ~ happy day.

Brewing beer in the house ~ bad ~ foretells of being turned away from his own house.

Bringing mice from a field ~ bad ~ signifies a bad heart.

Building a house for oneself ~ bad ~ foretells contrary words ahead.

Building his own house ~ bad ~ foretells disputes against him.

Burying alive ~ good ~ lively prosperity.

Burying an old man ~ good ~ prosperity.

Busiris ~ good ~ great old age.

Carrying off temple items ~ bad ~ foretells property confiscated.

Carved-up billy-goat’s limbs are given to him ~ good ~ a favorable outcome.

Casting copper ~ bad ~ indicates a future of roaming the earth.

A large cat ~ good ~ a large harvest.

Catching birds ~ bad ~ something of his will be carried off.

Causing cattle to come in ~ good ~ people will be assembled for him by his God.

Chewing ~ good ~ something will happen.

Chewing a melon ~ bad ~ disputes will happen.

Chewing a plant ~ bad ~ indicates a debate.

Chewing waterlily leaves ~ good ~ you will enjoy something.

Climbing up a mast ~ good ~ he will be elevated by his God.

Clothes are wet ~ bad ~ means fighting.

Closing house ~ bad ~ indicates repulsion.

Consuming the flesh of a donkey ~ good ~ to become great.

Consuming the flesh of a crocodile ~ good ~ consuming the possessions of an official, it may also mean acting as an official.

Copulating with a female aardwolf ~ bad ~ a judgement against him.

Copulating with a kite ~ bad ~ something might be grabbed right out of his hand.

Copulating with his mother ~ good ~ he will be joined by clansfolk.

Copulating with a pig ~ bad ~ your possessions will be emptied.

Copulating with his sister ~ good ~ something will be assigned.

Copulating with his wife in the daylight ~ bad ~ his crimes will be seen by the God.

Copulating with a woman ~ bad ~ signifies mourning.

Cranes ~ good ~ prosperity.

Crocodiles signify acting as an official.

Cultivating herbs ~ good ~ victuals will be found.

Cutting up a bull ~ good ~ the opponent will be killed.

Cutting up a female hippopotamus ~ good ~ much food of the palace.

Cutting your own hair ~ bad ~ something will be taken from the house.

Dreaming you are dead ~ good ~ a long life.

A dead bull means enemies.

Drinking blood ~ bad ~ signifies fighting.

Drinking warm beer ~ bad ~ suffering will come upon him.

Drinking wine ~ good ~ living according to truth, or mouth will be open.

To drive away his tears for God ~ bad ~ denotes fighting.

A dwarf or midget ~ bad ~ signifies taking away half his life.

Dying from a back-wound ~ good ~ you will live after your father.

Eating in a dream represents food.

Eating an egg ~ bad ~ something will be stolen.

Eating figs and grapes ~ bad ~ foretells pain.

Eating grapes ~ good ~ receiving something of one’s own.

Eating a gutted catfish ~ bad ~ you will be seized by a crocodile.

Eating hot meat ~ bad ~ signifies no justification.

Eating sycamore figs ~ bad ~ signifies pains.

Eating faience ~ bad ~ indicates strong dispute.

Eating the flesh of cattle ~ bad ~ fighting or that something bad will happen.

Eating tigre-nuts ~ good ~ governing townspeople.

Eating what he detesteth ~ bad ~ he will eat unwittingly (not a good thing).

Spring is the time of nature, revelation, and discovery. Just as plants peek out of the ground, so do snakes and other creatures that have rested over the winter. March is the time of Isis, moon mother, and mother of the sea. Snakes are one of her symbols. This ritual respectfully conjures her symbolic reptile, paying tribute to her while invoking her spirit.